1918-19.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 339 



from China tend to show tliat Southern and Western China 

 is rich in Gesneraceae, and many of the novelties cannot 

 be referred to the known genera of India, Burma, and 

 Malaya. The generic name is in honour of Mr. James 

 Whytock, President of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh, 

 a distinguished sj^lviculturist and horticulturist. 



OBITUARY NOTICES. 



William Watson, M.D., Deputy Surgeon-General, I.M.S. 



Dr. William Watson, President of the Edinburgh Botanical 

 Society for the Sessions 1897-1899, died after a long illness 

 on 16th June 1912, aged eighty years. 



He was the son of William Watson, Esq., Sheritl-Sub- 

 stitute of Aberdeenshire from 1829 to 1866, who was one of 

 the pioneers in connection with ragged schools and is still 

 remembered in Aberdeen for his philanthropic work. 



Dr. Watson distinguished himself during his medical 

 studies at the University of his native city and took his 

 degree w^hen barely twenty-one years of age. After a 

 course of study in Paris, he joined in 1853 the East India 

 Company's service as assistant surgeon, and was attached 

 to different European regiments which were stationed at 

 Meerut, Agra, etc. In 1856 he was offered and accepted 

 the post of civil surgeon at Mynpoorie, in the North- West 

 Provinces. 



When the Mutiny broke out in 1857 it found Dr. Watson 

 still on duty there. The whole surrounding country in a 

 short time was seething with rebellion, and reluctantly it 

 was decided that all Europeans should leave Mynpoorie 

 for Agra, where they could take refuge in the fort. The 

 magistrate knew that, in the event of those upholding the 

 British authority leaving, there might be a massacre of all 

 the loyal inhabitants, determined to hold to his post, and 

 asked for volunteers to join him. Dr. Watson at once 

 decided to remain with the magisti'ate, and alone, or almost 

 alone, they staj'^ed at this isolated station maintaining 

 British authority without the necessary means of support. 



